RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The number of people casting ballots at early-voting places has now exceeded 2 million in North Carolina.

The State Board of Elections reported late Thursday afternoon that in-person early-voting had surpassed the mark. More than 2.2 million votes have been cast when traditional absentee ballots and those living or stationed overseas are added.

In 2008, more than 2.4 million people voted early in person and 2.6 million when all non-Election Day voting was counted -- both records.

In-person early voting began Oct. 18 and ends Saturday afternoon. Mail-in absentee ballots must be turned in to local elections boards by Monday or postmarked by Tuesday.PREVIOUS STORY:Early voting runs through November 3rd in all North Carolina counties. Not only can those who are already registered vote, but residents who haven't registered can do so and vote during the one stop process.

Voters were met with lines as they tried to cast their ballot on the first day of early voting in several Eastern Carolina counties.

In Pitt County, the line this morning was out the door and down the block at the Winterville Fire Department. Around 11:00 a.m. the line was about a hundred people outside, with another 30 people inside.

Pitt County Elections Director Dave Davis said there were lines at every site this morning. But he says the lines moved quickly.

A total of 2,874 people cast their ballot in Pitt County with 72 people registering. Davis says the three individual voting sites that were open Thursday saw more voters come through than on the first day of early voting in the 2008 election. However, there were five sites open on that day in 2008, compared to the first day of early voting in 2012. Thus, the overall number of voters for the first day of early voting in Pitt County was higher in 2008 compared to 2012.

In Carteret and Craven counties there have also been lines at early voting sites.

Each county has locations where people can cast their ballots early, through Saturday, November 3.

For a complete list of one stop voting locations just click on the link below.

If you did not register to vote, one stop voting is your only option. It allows you both register and cast your ballot at the same time.

The onset of early voting is bringing national Democratic and Republican party leaders to North Carolina. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus and Democratic counterpart Debbie Wasserman Schultz each planned to participate in campaign events in the state Thursday as in-person absentee voting started.

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